BLM California News.Bytes Issue 941

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news bytes - bureau of land management california
A lush creek with vegetation surrounding it.

Headwaters Forest Reserve, Arcata Field Office

ISSUE 941- March 12, 2021


Recreate Responsibly

A green valley surrounded by mountains.

Recreate responsibly, recreate safely!

As the weather warms up in California, exploring your public lands is a great way to relax & reset your mind. The birds are singing, flowers are blooming, & the sun is shining! Please remember to wear your mask when in close proximity to other visitors. (Recreate Responsibly Tips)

A man putting an orange pole in the sand.

BLM park rangers work to protect endangered plant

The Imperial Sand Dunes Rec. Area is home to a unique plant, Peirson's milkvetch, which only grows in the sand dunes at the Algodones Dunes. BLM park rangers from the El Centro Field Office ensure boundary markers are set to protect this plant species from being damaged by OHV use. (BLM CA Facebook)

An overcrowded parking lot near hillsides.

BLM making safety improvements at Creekside Terrace Trailhead

The BLM will be making safety improvements to Creekside Terrace Trailhead at Fort Ord National Monument in Monterey Co. Staff will be installing speed bumps, adding gravel to designate parking areas, & putting up signs identifying safe parking sites. (BLM CA News Release)

A snow-covered trail up a mountain.

Weather prompts temporary closure at South Cow Mountain OHV Area

The South Cow Mountain OHV Management Area is temporarily closed due to heavy precipitation and poor road and trail conditions. For more information, call (707) 468-4000 or visit the website. (BLM CA Website)


Headlines & Highlights

Sunset over the Grand Canyon.

Interior Department celebrates passage of the American Rescue Plan

The Department of the Interior today applauded the passage of the American Rescue Plan (ARP), a bold legislative package that will help address the public health and economic crises that continue to impact the American people. The ARP contains several provisions that fund Interior initiatives and benefit the communities we directly serve, including Tribal governments and schools. (DOI News Release)

A black and white old photo of a woman wearing a hat in front of a american flag background.

Celebrate the cultural, social, economic and political achievements of women for Women's History Month

During her time at the Department of the Interior, Antoinette Funk inaugurated the project of reclaiming and renovating plat books, which were falling apart from age and neglect. Thanks to Funk's dedication to the records, we still have the original survey plats today! (BLM Website)

People sitting on horses in a line.

Saddle-trained wild horses available for adoption on March 25

The Bureau of Land Management, in coordination with the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office, is offering one halter-trained and up to eight saddle-trained wild horses for adoption. The virtual competitive-bid event will start at 6 p.m. Pacific Time via Zoom on Thursday, March 25. (BLM CA News Release)

A bunch or people standing in a dry field under some trees.

BLM Central California Resource Advisory Council appoints new members

The BLM is pleased to welcome six new members to serve three-year terms on the Central CA Resource Advisory Council. The council will advise on the BLM’s multiple-use mission in the Bakersfield, Bishop, Central Coast, Mother Lode, & Ukiah field offices. (BLM CA News Release)

An oil rig in the ocean at sunset.

Interior Department outlines next steps in fossil fuels program review

As part of the comprehensive review of the federal oil and gas program called for in Executive Order 14008, the Interior Department will host a virtual forum on Thursday, March 25th. The day-long forum will feature several panels to highlight perspectives from industry representatives, labor and environmental justice organizations, natural resource advocates, and other experts. (DOI News Release)


Question of the Week - Wildlife

A bobcat sitting under some branches.

True or False:

Bobcats are only active during the night.

 


Keep scrolling to find out!

Photo courtesy of USFWS


Fire & Fuels Management

Piles of burning wood in a snowy landscape.

Breaks between storms allowed opportunity for successful pile burns

Eagle Lake Field Office crews were able to complete a prescribed fire in a 37-acre area. These mounds of brush, limbs & small juniper trees resulted from work to reduce fuels, improving range health and potentially reducing the risk of catastrophic wildfire. (BLM CA Facebook)

A gravel road through a bare, rolling landscape.

Why does the BLM manage fuels?

That’s a good question. Fuels are managed to restore & maintain ecosystems, decrease the chances that lives or property will be lost to wildland fire, and improves the efficiency & safety of wildland fire suppression. (BLM Fire & Aviation Twitter)

Current BLM fire Restrictions

Don't let your guard down just because it's cold! Some fire restrictions still in effect

There's still fire danger in some parts of the state. Avoid activities that could spark a wildfire! Here’s an interactive MAP showing all current fire restrictions. Be sure to bookmark it for future use!

Target shooting and other fire restrictions remain in effect for some areas of BLM-managed public lands in California. Find specific restrictions by field office on our Fire Restriction webpage. Restrictions on target shooting do not prevent hunting with a valid hunting license, as hunting on BLM public lands is managed by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Please visit the State website for more information.

Question of the Week Answer

False! Bobcats can be active day or night and while common, these quiet and typically solitary animals often go unseen.

The bobcat (Lynx rufus) can be found throughout California’s public lands and beyond, living in 48 states, southern Canada and Mexico. Half the size of mountain lions and two to three times larger than housecats, bobcats flaunt a “bobbed” tail and sideburn like tufts of fur on their head. They can be shades of tan, yellow or reddish brown with dark brown to black stripes and spots. Bobcats are a native California species which help in maintaining habitat health and diversity by keeping in check rodent and small mammal populations.


Here’s some helpful information to increase your safety if one happens to cross your path. 

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